Koryo Tours

Koryo Tours is a travel company headquartered in Beijing, China, that specialises in tours to North Korea (DPRK) and other unusual destinations. Founded in 1993 by Nick Bonner and Josh Green, it is one of the longest-running and most recognised operators for travel to the DPRK. The company arranges regular group tours, private independent tours, and special-interest trips, and also organises cultural engagement projects, sports events, and film productions connected to North Korea. Beyond North Korea, Koryo Tours offers tours to a wide range of destinations across East Asia, Central Asia, South Asia, the Middle East, Africa, Russia, and the Caucasus. Its stated mission is to facilitate responsible tourism to the world's most isolated and least understood countries while encouraging people-to-people engagement through travel, culture, sport, and humanitarian projects. The company operates through its website koryogroup.com and maintains a blog, newsletter, and social media presence. Koryo Tours is a private company. Its co-founder Nick Bonner remains a director and tour leader, while Simon Cockerell, who joined in 2002, serves as General Manager. The company has been involved in producing documentaries and books about North Korea, including the films "Comrade Kim Goes Flying" (2012), "Crossing the Line" (2006), "A State of Mind" (2004), and "The Game of Their Lives" (2002), as well as the book "Made in North Korea: Graphics From Everyday Life in the DPRK" (Phaidon, 2017).

Koryo Tours was founded in 1993 by Nick Bonner and Josh Green. Bonner, then a tutor in Landscape Architecture at Leeds Metropolitan University, travelled to Beijing for a study tour and to meet his friend Josh Green. Green arranged the first Koryo trip through a North Korean colleague he had studied Chinese with in Beijing. Bonner was hooked and together they developed the company. Josh Green left the company in 1997 but still leads the occasional tour and provides reflective insight and advice. Simon Cockerell, from the south-west of England, moved to Beijing in 2000 and became Koryo's General Manager two years later, in 2002. He has travelled to North Korea more than 175 times. The company has since expanded its tour offerings beyond North Korea to include destinations across East Asia, Central Asia, South Asia, the Middle East, Africa, Russia, and the Caucasus. Over the decades, Koryo Tours has been involved in cultural and film projects related to North Korea. It produced or was involved in the films "The Game of Their Lives" (2002), "A State of Mind" (2004), "Crossing the Line" (2006), and "Comrade Kim Goes Flying" (2012). In 2017, Phaidon published "Made in North Korea: Graphics From Everyday Life in the DPRK," a book associated with the company. Koryo Tours continues to operate as a private travel company based in Beijing, offering group and private tours, and maintaining a blog and newsletter.

• 2017

  Book "Made in North Korea: Graphics From Everyday Life in the DPRK" published by Phaidon.

• 2012

  Film "Comrade Kim Goes Flying" released.

• 2006

  Film "Crossing the Line" released.

• 2004

  Film "A State of Mind" released.

• 2002

  Simon Cockerell becomes General Manager; film "The Game of Their Lives" released.

• 1997

  Josh Green leaves the company but remains involved occasionally.

• 1993

  Koryo Tours founded by Nick Bonner and Josh Green; first trip to North Korea arranged.

A travel agency specializing in tourism to North Korea

• North Korea group tours

  Regular group tours throughout the year designed to introduce North Korea's society, politics, and culture.

• North Korea private independent tours

  Tailored itineraries based on individual interests or requests.

• Pyongyang Marathon trips

  Trips organised around the Pyongyang Marathon.

• International tours to unusual destinations

  Tours to destinations in East Asia, Central Asia, South Asia, the Middle East, Africa, Russia, and the Caucasus.

• Cultural engagement programmes

  Projects encouraging people-to-people engagement through culture, sport, and humanitarian initiatives.

• Film production

  Involvement in films such as "Comrade Kim Goes Flying" (2012), "Crossing the Line" (2006), "A State of Mind" (2004), and "The Game of Their Lives" (2002).

• Books

  Publication of "Made in North Korea: Graphics From Everyday Life in the DPRK" (Phaidon, 2017).

1. 1Koryo Tours official websitekoryogroup.com
2. 2About Us | Koryo Tourskoryogroup.com
3. 3About North Korea | Koryo Tourskoryogroup.com
4. 4North Korea and Mongolia - Koryo Tourskoryogroup.com